RUSSIA-WEATHER-COLDA young bareheaded woman braves the freezing outdoors in central Moscow, on December 19, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow dropped today to -17C (0F), but due to high humidity and strong cold wind, weather experts said it would feel more like -25C (-13F).

Kokoulin sails his self-made yacht to mark the ending of the sailboat season on the Yenisei RiverValery Kokoulin, 47, dressed as Santa Claus, sails his self-made yacht to mark the ending of the sailboat season, as the air temperature dropped to minus 23 degrees of Celsius (minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit), on the Yenisei River, outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 7, 2012.

Two women play in the snow in an air temperature of about minus 30 degrees Celcius in KrasnoyarskTwo women play in the snow in an air temperature of about minus 30 degrees Celcius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 18, 2012. A severe cold spell has brought temperatures around 10-20 degrees Celcius lower than average across Siberia, according to media reports.

RUSSIA-WEATHER-COLDEDITORS NOTE -- CORRECTING BYLINE TO NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA-- A man walks past a fence covered with hoarfrost in central Moscow, on December 19, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow dropped today to -17C (0F), but due to high humidity and strong cold wind, weather experts said it would feel more like -25C (-13F).

Kokoulin rings a bell on his self-made yacht to mark the ending of the sailboat season on the Yenisei RiverValery Kokoulin, 47, dressed as Santa Claus, rings a bell on his self-made yacht to mark the ending of the sailboat season, as the air temperature dropped to minus 23 degrees of Celsius (minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit), on the Yenisei River, outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 7, 2012.

RUSSIA-WEATHER-COLDA street vendor braves the freezing outdoors while selling knitted clothing in central Moscow, on December 20, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow reached today to -16C (3F).

Alexander Alexeyev, a public bus traffic controller, works at a bus station in KrasnoyarskAlexander Alexeyev, a public bus traffic controller, works at a bus station in temperatures of around minus 30 degree Celsius (minus 22 degree Fahrenheit) in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 13, 2012. Alexeyev works outdoors for 10 hours a day, in any weather conditions, all-the-year-round. The air temperature in Krasnoyarsk region dropped to minus 48 degrees Celsius (minus 54.4 degree Fahrenheit) last night, local media reported.

A dog stands under trees covered with heavy hoarfrost and snow on a bank of the frozen Yenisei RiverA dog stands under trees covered with heavy hoarfrost and snow on a bank of the frozen Yenisei River at air temperature about minus 26 degrees Celsius, some 52 km south of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 19, 2012.

RUSSIA-WEATHER-COLDA young couple share a tender moment braving the freezing outdoors at the Red Square in Moscow, on December 20, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow reached today to -16C (3F).

Inmates remove snow as they create snow sculptures for Christmas and New Year celebrations in an open-air enclosure at a high-security prison in KrasnoyarskInmates remove snow as they create snow sculptures for Christmas and New Year celebrations in an open-air enclosure at a high-security prison, with temperatures around minus 33 Celsius (minus 27 Fahrenheit), in vicinities of Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 15, 2012. The text on the sign reads, "Remember, somebody is waiting for you at home."

RUSSIA-FEATUREA young polar bear wallows in snow at the public zoo in the Russia's second city of Saint-Petersburg, on December 7, 2012.

RUSSIA-WEATHER-COLDPeople walk braving the freezing outdoors in central Moscow, on December 20, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow reached today to -16C (3F).

A stray dog walks along an embankment in an air temperature of about minus 30 degrees Celcius in KrasnoyarskA stray dog walks along an embankment in an air temperature of about minus 30 degrees Celcius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 18, 2012. A severe cold spell has brought temperatures around 10-20 degrees Celcius lower than average across Siberia, according to media reports.

RUSSIA-WEATHERA street vendor tries to catch one of his a winter hats which was blown off a stand by a strong wind at the Red Square in Moscow, on December 14, 2012. Moscow temperatures dropped today to -12 C (10 F), but due to high humidity and strong cold wind, weather experts said it would feel more like - 20 C (- 4 F).

A person crosses the newly frozen Shumikha bay of the Yenisei River at air temperature about minus 25 degrees Celsius near the village of KhmelnikiA person crosses the newly frozen Shumikha bay of the Yenisei River at air temperature about minus 25 degrees Celsius near the village of Khmelniki some 50 km south of the Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, December 20, 2012.

Two girls play in the snow on the bank of an island in the middle of the Yenisei River in KrasnoyarskTwo girls play in the snow on the bank of an island in the middle of the Yenisei River, where the air temperature reached minus 22 degrees Celsius (minus 7.6 degrees Fahrenheit), in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 6, 2012.

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EDITORS NOTE -- CORRECTING BYLINE TO NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA-- A man walks past a fence covered with hoarfrost in central Moscow, on December 19, 2012. A cold wave of weather hit this week the Russian capital. The temperatures in Moscow dropped today to -17C (0F), but due to high humidity and strong cold wind, weather experts said it would feel more like -25C (-13F).